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By papasmurf
#72303
Revband, I suspect lacing the spokes on a wheel is like fitting a side-car and setting it up, a black art.

I am always telling people who look at our two sidecars not to try attaching sidecar at home it is a specialist job.
I would not attempt building a wire wheel myself not even a bicycle wheel.
By Felix
#72317
I started out on bicycle wheels, then friends and I laced our own moto wheels on an old swing arm using a dial gauge, pinging the spokes for tension. Back in the 70s I assumed everyone did this. It was common to replace steel rims with alloy. I never heard of a spoke torque wrench but don't recall any disasters. Some guys would true them on the bike.
By Lord-Toady
#72541
I really need new spokes on my rear wheel as they are all rusty and have been painted over in silver paint which is now coming off they look a state and I dont trust them. I phoned up a local wheel builders today actually and was quoted £295 to rebuild the rear wheel with stainless spokes which he said were 80 quid. It's alot more expensive than I had expected so have been looking at youtube videos. I have also seen a complete 19" rear wheel with 6" hub brand new from India on ebay for £90 including shipping which seems much more reasonable.
By Revband
#72543
£80.00 for the spokes is about right, £215.00 to do the job?, Jeez that is outrageous, two hours work if done very slowly.
By AndyMc
#72548
Mmmm. I'm happy to tinker with an engine and i am proficient enough to replace brake pads, seals and lines etc but i would be very careful indeed when meddling with a front wheel. I would be very upset to spend several weeks in hospital wishing I'd got a professional to do the job
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By Leon Novello
#72552
Keep in mind that there are different grades of hardness in stainless steel wire, from very hard/brittle to soft/bendable. Somewhere in between is the correct grade for a wheel spoke. As far as I`m aware, Royal Enfield use the correct grade wire for their spokes as the Bullet has never broken one.

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